The Government has commissioned an independent review of the national homeless strategy in what it said was its "continuing commitment" to tackling the issue.
The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal, Mr Noel Ahern, announced that following a public tendering process he had hired Dublin-based Fitzpatrick Associates to undertake the study.
Homeless sector agencies welcomed the move and predicted it would expose several deficiencies and contradictions in Government policy.
Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal, Mr Ahern
"There has been a significant improvement in services but there are also unacceptable gaps in the system," said Fr Peter McVerry, founder of the Arrupe Society for homeless youths and of drug treatment centres in Dublin.
Fr McVerry said rent allowance restrictions announced in the annual Estimates were "effectively creating homelessness".
Mr Ahern said, however, the independent review showed the Government was committed to tackling homelessness and ensuring its resources and efforts are directed to where they are needed most. "It is important that all stakeholders, both statutory and voluntary, have an input into this review and the fact that it is being undertaken by independent consultants will facilitate this," he said.
The consultants, who count several Government departments, firms and trade bodies among their clients, will submit a draft report by the end of May.
Mr Ahern said consultation with all stakeholders, including the voluntary sector, will form a major part of the review. Advertisements will be placed in the media shortly seeking submissions from interested organisations.
The consultants will study the progress made in the implementation of the Government's previous homelessness action plans and its integrated and preventative homeless strategies. They will evaluate the effectiveness of the overall service provision arrangements and funding mechanisms currently in place to address the needs of homeless people.
The terms of reference also ask them to recommend how best to address homelessness in light of funding available.